SAVE BOCA CHICA BEACH

This blog is not about stopping the proposed SpaceX project. It is about protecting Boca Chica beach and the wildlife and plants near and around Boca Chica.

Sunday, June 3, 2012

PRESERVE BOCA CHICA WITH A
CLEAN-UP

Univision wants to
interview pro Boca Chica residents.Laura Cavazos from Univision is looking to
interview folks about the issue. If you're interested, can you call her at 956
429 2525?
There are two separate issues here. One is to
preserve Boca Chica regardless of economic development and one is to save it
from SpaceX. SpaceX and its supporters have reached the point that they cannot
be trusted. No matter what the liars say on their side thousands of people in
Brownsville use and care for Boca Chica.

I am the first to say far too
many residents trash the beach. But it is not all from the visitors. It has
been well documented that the oil rigs and cruise ships dump trash into the
gulf. This trash washes up on our beach.

LET'S STAND TOGETHER AND CLEAN-UP BOCA
CHICA

I am willing to help, but will not lead - a
community based group to do a clean-up at Boca Chica which has as its focus the
cleaning of Boca Chica and highlighting of its beauty and environmental
diversity. It would need to be nonpolitical. It must be a group which can have
sponsors, but not organized by any group looking for self-promotion.
The group must have one purpose - Preserve
Boca Chica. We need to educate the people of Brownsville and the community about the importance of Boca Chica.

If
people want to have an organizational meeting for Preserve Boca Chica, I am
willing to coordinate it, but others will lead. You can post your name, email,
and phone number as an anony post and I will then compile the data. In a week
or so I will email everyone on the list as to a time and date for an
organizational meeting. if someone wants to propose a meeting place have at
it.

Again this has
to come from the people - if the people will not lead then nothing can come of
this.

AS TO SAVE BOCA CHICA WE MUST DEFEAT
THE LIARS

A business man known in the blogosphere post
to the Herald lies about our efforts. Such unethical conduct is not going to
help SpaceX. We are not a bunch of loud locals and we are not opposing SpaceX
for publicity. We care for Boca Chica and do not want it destroyed by SpaceX
and those easily impressed with shiny objects. The next time this business
person posts lies about who we are and our motivations I will go after him and
his business. He has since taken down his posts.

If you support SpaceX
make your argument on the merits. I do understand no one who supports SpaceX
can make their argument on the merits because SpaceX is refusing to answer any
direct questions. This should put everyone on notice SpaceX is not playing
fair.

SpaceX will be a successful company and make money. But we do not
need another company dependent of corporate welfare from the taxpayers playing
the people of Cameron county and Brownsville.

SpaceX refuses to answer
any questions. SpaceX supporters cannot answer any questions because there are
no answers at this time.

Unresolved issues:
Environment; security; beach access; real jobs (NASA's initial command center
for launch is in Florida, but then the main command center is in Houston - Clear
Lake - pay attention people - SpaceX is not going to have its main command
center with top paying jobs in Brownsville - they are going to develop it in a
city with major universities and resources. - the jobs for Brownsville are
limited - in fact I would submit all of the high paying jobs will go to laid off
NASA employees - Brownsville will get the janitorial jobs)- SpaceX has promised
nothing - it is playing Brownsville against two other possible locations to see
which community will put up the most taxpayer money for their corporation with
profits going to their shareholders and not Brownsville.

Until SpaceX
actually agrees to answer questions it is fair to say all it wants from
Brownsville is a bunch local politicians and activists easily impressed with
shiny objects. It blows my mind anyone with even a limited education could
possibly support SpaceX on Boca Chica when SpaceX has refused to answer any of
the key questions related to the project.

SpaceX is like the pot dealer
in highschool - the first couple of times is free - once you are hooked you then
learn the consequences of your actions. SpaceX is just feeding the easily
impressed locals enough to get their support and then when it is too late to
change course SpaceX will hit them with the truth.

SpaceX is in for a
battle in Brownsville which will put its corporate welfare business dealings on
the front page.

Tuesday, May 29, 2012

MESCALERO
SPEAKS

IN DEFENSE OF BOCA
CHICA

Editor's Note: The BV
would oppose any utility development of the area. The problem is a viable
solution. You cannot preserve Boca Chica if people are not educated about its
beauty and unique plants, animal life etc. Once you educate them, they will
want to preserve it, but also go to the beach. This will cause some additional
damage. While it is illegal to ride in the dunes it is done all of the time
because there is no one from the county enforcing the law.

I am not
sure I have a problem with an entrance fee to Boca Chica. By having a county
employee charging a fee it will also allow the county to better bar any sports
vehicles from the beach. I also have no problem with the county charging a
garbage bag fee the visitor gets back when they bring back the garbage bag
filled with their trash.

All of the above are proactive things the county
can do to preserve this treasure. Far too many of the people who use Boca Chica
have proven themselves to be bad stewards of Boca Chica. I am so tired of
seeing how people disrespect this treasure - so in my mind a fee which has the
effect of protecting Boca Chica would be a good thing.

I hope more people
will come forward and defend Boca Chica. Different people might disagree about
the mechanics of defending Boca Chica, but what is important is that we stand
together to prevent any development, beyond that which is needed to protect this
natural treasure the beach.

HERE IS
MESCALERO'S DEFENSE OF BOCA CHICA

Exactly as I
feared. Already hopes that if utilities are extended to Boca Chica we can get
some of those "projects" developed. Let's put up some historical centers and a
visitor's center. We will then need bathrooms and maybe a snack bar and on and
on it will go. And, to pay for the centers and upkeep and to repair all the
vandalism, we will need a beach access fee. It might not be Padre Island but it
won't be Boca Chica.

And the same goes for Palmetto Hill. Check out how
degraded the habitats are out there and yet they hold so much life. Any
construction will probably be on the higher elevations known as lomitas (little
hills) to avoid flooding. These lomitas are a biologically unique area in the
world. Not another inch should be cleared. And the same for the coastal prairie
out there. In the alternative I would suggest an information center somewhere in
the vicinity of the border patrol checkpoint with monuments at the actual sites.
By keeping any buildings in one spot it minimizes the impact on the environment
and probably reduces construction costs. Being near the checkpoint may redue
vandalism.

Also, it is a false statement to say that Boca Chica will
never become Padre Island. I've lived here long enough to have hung out on the
Island when there were only three free standing restaurants and only a small
handful of hotel/motels and look at it
now.

Monday, May 28, 2012

SAVE BOCA CHICA, AND
CLARKSVILLE

Everything in this story comes from a
reader. Thanks

CLARKSVILLE, TX (CAMERON
COUNTY)

CLARKSVILLE, TEXAS (Cameron County).
Clarksville was near the mouth of the Rio Grande, opposite the Mexican city of
Bagdad. During the Mexican War
a temporary army camp stood there, with William H.
Clark, a civilian, in charge. Clark set up a country store and served as
agent for the steamship lines using the port. The town quickly developed; houses
were built up on stilts to be above high water. During the early part of the Civil
War Clarksville thrived on the trade of the Confederate blockade-runners,
but in 1863 it was captured by federals, who held it most of the time until the
end of the war. The last battle of the war was fought four miles away at Palmito
Ranchqv. In 1867 Clarksville was almost destroyed by a hurricane but
survived during the days of the river steamer. In 1872 it received another blow
when the railway was built from Brownsville to Point Isabel, and severe storms
in 1874 and 1886 finished it. In 1953 the river had changed its course and
flowed over the site of Clarksville.

I
did not know this about Clarksville. There needs to be an historical marker
placed at the mouth of the river making note of this. It would be awesome if a
properly sanctioned archaeological dig could be organized to bring life back to
this very important city in terms of America's civil war history. This is
something tourist would go see.

MAY 30TH IS DEADLINE FOR
COMMENTS ON SPACEX

People only we can stop this. Our
elected officials are dupes. They have taken the bait in the same old corporate
game used time and time again. You announce so many cities are in the running
for a new plant, stadium or whatever and then watch how the local politicos fall
over one another offering to give up their own children is their community gets
the deal.

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

OTIS POWERS SHOWING OFF A RED

For people out of the know, the dot on the tail tells you it is a Red. Most people find them good eating. I love fish - but I am not big on Reds. This is not a Red Snapper.
People, I am not against SpaceX. I am for preserving for use and beauty Boca Chica and its surrounding areas. Judge Cascos should have been well informed on this issue before he chose to back it. Shiny objects politics never works for the people. We need answers. When we have guarantees about Boca Chica then it will be easier for everyone to get behind SpaceX.
People I need more pictures - the more the better.
I also need science information as to why Boca Chica and its wild life is important.